10 tips for choosing a graphics tablet

Who is the best graphics tablet manufacturer?

Xiaomi

XP-PEN

Parblo

HUION

WACOM

Genius

Aiptek

Trust

Adesso

Total voted: 2

Vote results

The graphics tablet market is dominated by several manufacturers that produce quality gadgets with good warranties:

Wacom. Any professional artist will tell you that you won't find better tablets from this company. The company annually updates its lineup, and the quality is beyond doubt. Customers can choose between Macintosh and Windows operating systems, with Bamboo being the most popular line.

Genius. Offers inexpensive tablets, for which he has earned popularity among beginners. These devices are suitable for drawing in simple editors and photo processing.

Huion. The company appeared relatively recently, but managed to release several dozen tablets for various purposes. The brand uses the latest technology to win over the customer. At the same time, prices remain affordable. A powerful tablet is recommended for professional artists and photographers.

They are inferior to the leaders in terms of the number of functions and capacities, but are perfect for beginners. They have programs for drawing and photo editing, and the price is often quite affordable. For example, Adesso's Cybertablet Z12 tablet is preferred by many because of its comfortable stylus, ease of use and versatility.

It is easy to get confused in the variety of tablets, especially for beginners. In order for the device to perform its tasks, it is important to choose the right model in accordance with the functional and design features:

digital notepad. This option is considered the most accessible and simple, it is preferred by novice photographers and teenagers.Notepad has limited functionality and opens simple image editing programs. Initially, they were issued for making notes and translating handwritten text into digital.

Nowadays, such tablets can be seen in business people who put signatures on documents. The low screen resolution and the lack of stylus pressure recognition allow for simple sketches and outlines, but they can't cope with complex shadows and shading.

semi-professional graphics tablets. It is advantageous to buy such a device for drawing on a computer. It has high sensitivity and diverse functionality. They are used by beginners and professionals for drawing, entering graphics and text. They differ from tablets of the highest category in size: the standard format is A5 or A6.

The only drawback of the device is the lack of a multifunctional stylus. It is more difficult to set up for shading, you can not change the degree of pressure. Otherwise, semi-professional tablets are not inferior to more expensive ones. They are bought for home drawings, web design, creating banners and logos.

Interactive monitors. These tablets are purchased by professional designers, artists and photographers. Thanks to the touch screen and sensitive stylus, the customer is able to create any image and text.

The choice of a stylus is one of the main steps when buying a graphics tablet, because the usability of any model, even the most expensive one, depends on it. The main characteristics are tilt and pressure sensitivity, pen type, nib material and design. In accordance with this, all styluses are divided into 3 types:

1. Ordinary.Such a pen is able to draw a straight line, zigzag and any other element. They can recognize the angle of inclination and pressure to accurately repeat the movement.
2. Realistic. Does not repeat the given elements (straight line, circle, etc.), but follows the user's hand.
3. Sensitive. Features high pressure and tilt response, ideal for professionals.

Sensitivity is responsible for the correspondence of a drawing or text to the artist's intent. Such styluses accurately repeat the movement of the hand, as if a person were guiding on paper. They are able to make the line thinner or thicker depending on the degree of pressure. There are several dozen sensitivity values, but manufacturers most often use only four:

1. 1024 degrees. Great for kids and beginners who create simple, minimalist images for websites.
2. 2048 degrees. The most popular value, it is used by designers and artists who produce work for the Internet and print publications.
3. 4086 degrees. Found in expensive models. Suitable for those who care about the maximum accuracy of hand movement.
4. 8192 degrees. Feature of premium quality graphics tablets with high precision stylus. Beginners can buy this option, but they are unlikely to appreciate all the advantages of the model.

The tips are mostly made of plastic, which wears out and wears out over time, so they need to be replaced regularly. Accordingly, the stylus must have a removable mechanism. All tips are conditionally divided into 4 categories:

Standard. Inexpensive option, made of soft plastic. Suitable for photographers and budding artists. With their help, it is convenient to draw, create digital painting, design logos, brands, websites.

Rigid. These tips last the longest due to their high density. They are purchased by professionals who work a lot with the device. However, for a beginner, it may be a bit strange as the stylus is harder to control. At first, the hand gets tired quickly.

spring loaded. These tips have a small spring that softens the pressure of the stylus. They wear out slowly, but you will have to learn how to use the device again. Spring-loaded tips completely change the pressing force.

elastic. The second most popular tips. Suitable for artists, as the hands get tired slowly. However, they wear out quickly and are expensive.

The choice of tip depends on preference, but professionals recommend taking a closer look at electromagnetic resonance technology. These styluses do not require recharging. Pen activation is affected by the Initial activation force parameter. The lower the value, the faster the stylus will start when it touches the tablet.

If possible, beginners should buy a set with several nibs to simulate different writing instruments. How to choose the right rod? Here you need to try all the options, start from your own preferences and goals.

Even a beginner pays attention to the size of the device, since the ease of use depends on it. This value is measured in inches (1 inch equals 25.4 mm) and is indicated diagonally. At the same time, a large tablet is not always better than a small one. Compact options 6x8 or even 4x5 are suitable for the home.This size is enough for the manufacturer to place powerful hardware inside.

Professional artists and photographers prefer large tablets, but they are also priced to match. Bulky gadgets are inconvenient because you have to move your hands a lot. If the buyer does not need to work with large canvases, such a tablet will become a burden, not an assistant.

A couple of years ago, the maximum size was considered to be 9x12 inches, which corresponded to the diagonal of computer monitors. Over time, they have become larger, and the performance of gadgets has also grown. Widescreen tablets are manufactured by Wacom and some Chinese brands that duplicate the original. Thanks to modern software, the gadget itself adjusts to the monitor. Drivers change automatically, the user only agrees with the result or rejects it. Recently a large tablet was released by Aiptek, which also includes free software.

The last thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a size is the aspect ratio of the workspace. Users of widescreen monitors should buy devices marked wide, that is, wide. Otherwise, part of the display will not be used, the meaning of the large screen will be lost. If you make a big mistake with the size, the proportions will be significantly distorted.

Professionals install drivers on their own and adjust the size of the tablet to the monitor, but for a beginner this can become an unnecessary difficulty. It is recommended to immediately choose a suitable diagonal.

If images look blurry or grainy on a tablet, the image is too low for its size. Professionals call this indicator DPI, that is, the number of dots per inch. Artists sometimes refer to PPI as this is the value used by Photoshop and other image editors. The meaning of the action is similar, it is important to buy a tablet with the correct number of dots per inch. The larger the value, the clearer and brighter the picture or photo will be. These images look great when printed and zoomed in.

DPI, which some manufacturers call readout information pitch, measures how many sensors are on the screen surface. The higher the value, the more accurate the line and point will be. Professionals choose graphics tablets with around 5080 dpi, because even at high magnification the picture remains clear. For amateurs and beginners, 2040 dpi is suitable. This is enough so that the lines do not look grainy, and the image is easy to edit and process.

The higher the resolution, the more pixels in a normal stroke. Accordingly, it is more difficult for the program to process the drawing. In order for the tablet to cope with such a task, it will need powerful hardware. Judging by the reviews of professionals, high resolution is only needed to create detailed images. Despite the fact that beginners often choose a high value and overpay, many do not use this feature.

2040 dpi is enough to create realistic images and excellent quality photos. It doesn't always make sense to pay more for 5080 dpi, especially when buying Chinese products with a weak processor.You also need to pay attention to how much memory is provided for a particular model. But this will be discussed further.

In total, 2 types of video cards are installed in graphics tablets: integrated and discrete. The first is built-in, and the second operates through the bus. Both display images on a computer monitor. However, the built-in card is not capable of high-quality processing of a complex 3D model. It does not have the necessary cores, shaders, shadows, anti-aliasing and other modern "chips". The most popular manufacturers of such cards are Amd Radeon and Intel HD. These tablets are recommended for amateurs, beginners and semi-professionals, as they are much cheaper.

The main difference between the discrete model is the number of cores and bandwidth. Such a video card has modern filters and powerful technologies. As a result, even complex and heavy graphics are produced quickly. Not surprisingly, such video cards are much more expensive, but are very much appreciated by professionals.

If you need a tablet for simple graphics, basic photo editing and 2D drawings, then an integrated graphics card will do the job just fine. And if the device is needed for 3D modeling and running complex editors that take up many gigabytes of memory, then a discrete one will be the best choice.

Modern tablets allow you to connect an additional video card to your native integrated one. The cost of these gadgets is higher than the rest, but they grow and develop with the owner. Beginning photographers and art lovers usually choose this option.You can buy a model with standard parameters, and then "pump" a graphics tablet to expand the functionality.

RAM is responsible for the operation of all running applications, including graphic editors, photo processing programs, etc. While active, it consumes energy, and when turned off, all information is deleted. Only the processor cache works faster than RAM, so the responsiveness of the tablet directly depends on it. If it is not enough, the multitasking of the device will be significantly reduced. All downloads will take much longer.

Most inexpensive graphics tablets have between 512 MB and 3 GB of memory. Of course, not only it is responsible for the speed of the device, a lot also depends on the operating system. But with Android and Windows, everything is simple - the more the better. 512 MB is no longer enough for most image editors. 1 GB is enough to run Photoshop and comfortably save a few medium-sized images.

When buying a new tablet from Apple, RAM plays almost no role. The company has optimized the software so that it starts quickly, does not bug, and does not lag behind the user's actions. 1 GB is enough even for professionals. If you plan to draw complex pictures and work in heavy graphic editors (most Adobe, Corel and Autodesk products), you will have to buy a model with 2-4 GB of RAM. But for beginners, this is not very relevant, it makes no sense to overpay.

Also, RAM partially affects the response speed, although this parameter should be studied separately.What value to choose? For beginners, 100-150 points per second (abbreviated pps) will be enough. Experienced artists, retouchers and photographers prefer professional devices with at least 200 pps.

A stable connection is required to display the image on the computer screen while drawing or editing photos. Typically, graphic tablets are connected to the monitor through special wires included in the kit. In total, 3 options for powering the tablet are possible:

• battery;
• wire (from the mains);
• wireless power (only available on Wacom tablets).

For most beginner artists who don't plan to take a graphics tablet with them, USB power connected to a computer is fine. Professionals often travel with a gadget, they need alternative energy sources.

For a tablet of any cost, you need to install the correct drivers. These programs control all the functions of the device, such as the sensitivity and tilt of the stylus. In most cases, they are installed automatically, especially from trusted manufacturers. Buying a very cheap tablet, there is a risk of being left without programs that will have to be purchased additionally.

There are 2 popular operating systems that are installed in gadgets: Microsoft Windows (xp, 7 or 8) and Mac Os (10.4, 10.5, 10.6). Depending on the system, the user purchases free software along with the device.Some companies, including Wacom, require you to register on the site in order to access all the pen tablet features. Many have free libraries with tutorials, others offer a wide range of creative/graphics/design utilities, etc. Before buying, it is recommended to view the list of programs that come with the kit. This will help save money in the future.

Most modern tablets are capable of either USB or wireless operation, but not both at the same time. With quality gadgets, the appropriate mode of action is activated automatically when the device cannot find the wire.

Modern tablets are equipped with battery status sensors, which are located on the back or side panels. They signal three situations:

1. Yellow light if the battery is charging through the wire.
2. Green if the battery is fully charged but the cable is connected to the device.
3. Red or off when the tablet is in wireless mode.

When choosing a device with a wireless connection function, it is important to pay attention to several nuances:

1. This mode recognizes the monitor at a distance of up to 10 meters, often much less. Going to another room with a tablet will not work.
2. Although it is not necessary to sit with the device directly in front of the computer, many manufacturers warn that other equipment (TVs, computers) creates interference. Even metal objects between the monitor and the tablet affect the signal. It is often inconvenient to work further than a couple of steps from the screen.
3. In order for the tablet to last longer, it is important to wait for the system to fully boot, and then turn on the wireless mode.Otherwise, programs will start to fail and respond to user actions with a delay.

How to choose a graphics tablet and which option is best suited - only the person who is going to use the gadget can decide. But it is important to understand that some features are not worth overpaying. It is better for beginner digital artists and photographers to buy a budget, but high-quality device for learning and understanding what functions are most important to them.